Silky Alpaca Lace Design Contest I

Trade shows are great places to meet up with other people in "the business". For a yarn distributor, that means sales reps, designers, mill representatives and, arguably our most important partners, yarn shop owners! We sat down for dinner with Stephanie Steinhaus of Unwind in Burbank, CA and put our heads together to come up with a fun, engaging way to sell some yarn. Stephanie mentioned that Silky Alpaca Lace is a bestseller in her shop, perfect for the Southern California climate and stylish enough for her young, hip customer base. After some back-and-forth, Unwind's "Absolutely No Design Skills Required" Silky Alpaca Lace Contest was born!

Stephanie was looking for designs that were climate-friendly, hip, and casual. She wanted stylish pieces that were unfussy and appropriate from the beach to the street to the office. For us, we knew that the winning design would be featured in a Web-Letter, so we had some criteria of our own. We wanted something that would not only meet our CEY design aesthetic, but also something the average knitter would have the desire and capability to execute on their own. Both our finalists were stunning pieces of work. You saw our accessory winner in the Web-Letter this week, the Dandelion Shawl from Kavita Sleight.

Here is the designer's own description:This triangular shawl with a rounded lace edge is worked from the center of the upper edge outwards, so the size can be adjusted. The size indicated is for a small shoulderette. The lace pattern was inspired by dandelion seeds blowing in the California breeze.

The original piece is quite dainty, Kavita refers to it as a "shoulderette". We appreciate that some may want a larger shawl; the Web Letter pattern includes a size range of 34 (44, 54)" wide at top x 13 (17.25, 22.5)" deep at center point.

There are two honorable mention entries in the accessories category. The first runner-up is the Poppycock Shawl. Designed by Karen Eckhoff, this garment is truly a piece of art. Taking it out of the box elicited gasps from everyone in the room, and we all had to try it on (obviously). The colorway she chose, Midnight Forest, perfectly echoes the iridescent colors of a peacock's tail.

While awe-inspiring, Poppycock is not for everyone...the pattern numbered 11 pages long! We would be remiss if we didn't give you a couple of peeks at this stunning piece. Hopefully Karen will decide to self-publish this shawl someday!

**UPDATE** Here is a note from the Karen Eckhoff, designer of Poppycock:

Thanks everyone for your flattering comments! I am quite stunned by the response! I will be making Poppycock available, however I would like to have it tech edited and charted first, as it is quite cumbersome in its raw form. I am rapunzelrides on Ravelry if you would like to drop me a line. Thanks again for the outpouring of support! Meanwhile, let's make Dandelion, it is lovely and Silky Alpaca Lace is fabulous to work with!

We have a second runner-up that will have to remain a secret for now...there's a special project on the books and you'll just have to stay tuned.

Next week we are featuring finalists in our garment category! If you do not receive our Weekly Web-Letter, what are you waiting for?

44 comments:

Poppycock truly is a piece of rt and should be shared with the world of knitters.Perhaps Karen would allow you to share contact information for her, as I would imagine several will want to contact her for purchasing this pattern.

Cannot believe that Poppycock wasn't the winner. It's a far superior garment both in style and execution. The only people who should wear the one you picked as a winner are those who are very petite. On anyone over about a size 6 it looks silly and is out of proportion. The Poppycock is gorgeous, could be worn by anyone or hung as a work of art. I hope you see fit to explain your decision to give the award to the one you did.

Dandelion is beautiful but must agree that I almost fell out of my chair at the Poppycock. I already sent a Ravelry post to store owner asking for Karen's contact info. Karen, you did a stunning job on this!

I agree with all comments thus far -- please publish the poppycock pattern or furnish the contact info for the designer. It is absolutely breath-taking. 11 pages is a lot but this finished piece would be such an achievement. I would love to try it! Please ask the designer to publish on ravelry!

I also cannot believe that Poppycock was not a winner. The folks judging this really underestimate the capabilities of those of us who knit. The winner is not something on which I would expend any time, effort or money - there is no reward in it; it looks more like a training exercise. PLEASE, Karen, PLEASE can you make the Poppycock pattern available for sale?

I agree with all of the comments on what a work of art Poppycock is! My daughter is having a peacock themed wedding in June and this would be perfect for me to knit...if only the patter was available! Please, please, please make it available (and in time for me to finish before the wedding)!!!

I'm not an experienced knitter but I would buy the Poppycock pattern just for the inspiration to keep learning! Even just putting a few elements in a scarf... wow! The "winner" ... although pretty, it does not inspire me the same way. PLEASE publish this pattern!

The Poppycock is gorgeous. But for the beginner knitter, Dandelion is the one I would pick. Just think of Dandelion on your Preteen to Prom girl's shoulders in any color. You have to agree it would be awesome.

Poppycock certainly would have had my vote for first place. What a gorgeous shawl! I searched Ravelry for the designer and couldn't find her. I certainly hope Karen will self-publish this spectacular pattern. I'll be looking forward to making it. Fingers crossed she will do it for all of us who would love to make it. I'm peacockmom on rav.

I'm very curious to know how if/how CE will respond to all these comments from people who can see! Dandelion is simplistic so I suppose if they were looking for an entry-level knitter project that explains why Poppycock didn't win, still... how do you do damage repair to how your customers see you on a muff-up like this?

While I understand the desire for something that's knittable for people of every skill level, and the Dandelion is a sweet little thing, the Poppycock is the one for which I would purchase the pattern. I hope the designer will be selling it.

I had to post a comment, which I rarely do. Poppycock is stunning and I can't believe it wasn't the winner. What were you thinking? I would also be willing to purchase this pattern if the designer would put it on Ravelry, or on a blog. Please, please, please...

Although Poppycock is stunning, the simplicity and realistic design of Dandelion is beautiful and more graceful. I think CEY did a great job in selecting a great design and still acknowledge the awesome design in Poppycock. Good job CEY in getting all of us talking about design, inspiration and the great craft of knitting!

Thanks everyone for your flattering comments! I am quite stunned by the response! I will be making Poppycock available, however I'd like to have it tech edited and charted first, as it is quite cumbersome in its raw form. I'm rapunzelrides on ravelry if you'd like to drop me a line. Thanks again for the outpouring of support! Meanwhile, let's make Dandelion, it is lovely and Silky Alpaca Lace is fabulous to work with!